IDC research reveals why European organizations are prioritizing digital sovereignty and sovereign AI, and what business and technology leaders should consider next.
The move toward sovereign cloud is gaining momentum. IDC found that 31% of European organizations already use sovereign cloud solutions, while a further 50% planned adoption. The top drivers are enhanced cybersecurity, cloud expansion, and compliance requirements.
This shift reflects a broader trend: organizations want greater control over where their data resides, who can access it, and how critical workloads are managed. Sovereignty is increasingly viewed as an integral part of cloud strategy rather than a separate compliance exercise.
Key insight: Digital sovereignty is becoming a core requirement for organizations seeking to strengthen security, resilience, and control in an increasingly cloud-driven world.
As AI adoption accelerates, organizations face growing pressure to ensure that sensitive data remains protected and compliant. IDC found that while only 15% of organizations currently use sovereign cloud environments for AI workloads, 36% plan to do so.
Data governance and control emerged as the most critical components of AI sovereignty. Organizations are looking for ways to leverage AI innovation while maintaining transparency, security, and regulatory compliance.
For many businesses, the goal is no longer moving data to AI platforms. Instead, they want to bring AI capabilities to where their data already resides. This approach helps reduce risk while unlocking the value of AI for sensitive or regulated workloads.
Key insight: Sovereign AI is quickly becoming a strategic consideration, particularly for organizations handling confidential, regulated, or business-critical data.
Technology alone is not enough. IDC found that organizations place high importance on local datacenter ownership, cybersecurity certifications, freedom from vendor lock-in, and strong partner ecosystems when selecting a sovereignty partner.
At the same time, many organizations report skills gaps in areas such as data management, cybersecurity, governance, and cloud operations. As a result, trusted partners play a critical role in helping organizations navigate digital sovereignty requirements and implement practical solutions.
Key insight: Successful sovereignty initiatives depend on a combination of technology, expertise, trust, and long-term partnership.
Vivicta is Red Hat's preferred digital sovereignty partner in the Nordics, recognizing its role in helping organizations address sovereignty requirements across cloud, data, security, and AI.
According to the report, Vivicta's approach combines hybrid, private, and multi-cloud capabilities with Nordic datacenter infrastructure, local operational expertise, and transparent governance models. The report also highlights Vivicta's capabilities in AI sovereignty, enabling organizations to retain control of sensitive data while leveraging advanced AI technologies.
For organizations operating in regulated industries or managing business-critical data, this combination of local presence, cloud expertise, and sovereignty-focused solutions can help balance innovation with compliance, security, and resilience requirements.
Want to explore the findings in more detail?
Get your report, Digital Sovereignty in Action: Building Resilient, Compliant, and Transparent Cloud Ecosystems, to gain deeper insights into sovereign cloud adoption, AI sovereignty, data governance, compliance requirements, and the partner capabilities organizations value most.